Box of Twenty

[Exhibitman]

Nope, can't do it. I can't even get it down to one item per subject. That said, there are a few items on my no-trade list:













That said, if someone offered me a crazy payment or trade, say a 1952 Topps Mantle for the Marciano RC salesman sample, I would make the deal.

[Mutton Chop Yaz]

I'm pursuing a version of this. I hadn't collected anything in decades and decided to sell the handful of nice cards I'd managed to acquire as a kid to start collecting a playing career-era card for each of the first 5 HOFers. Since then, I've picked up a T206 Mathewson portrait (Piedmont 150), a T206 Johnson profile (Polar Bear), and a T206 Cobb bat off (Sweet Caporal). I'm not sure what I'll do after I get a Wagner and a Ruth, and I don't plan to limit the collection to any specific number of cards, but it will probably always be small, and I want each card to be cool and notable.

I did keep one card for sentimental reasons - a signed 1965 Topps Colavito, which Rocky signed for me in the 1990s because we got our hair cut at the same barber.

[obcbobd]

Maybe I could do a version of this. I love to collect sets, in lower grade, as that's the only way to afford them. Perhaps I would augment my sets with a # of nicer cards (likely duplicating the lesser cards I have in my set binder)

Hmm,I think whatever number I start with, I'll end up increasing over the years :-)

Nevermind

[Anish]

Originally Posted by Mutton Chop Yaz

I'm pursuing a version of this. I hadn't collected anything in decades and decided to sell the handful of nice cards I'd managed to acquire as a kid to start collecting a playing career-era card for each of the first 5 HOFers. Since then, I've picked up a T206 Mathewson portrait (Piedmont 150), a T206 Johnson profile (Polar Bear), and a T206 Cobb bat off (Sweet Caporal). I'm not sure what I'll do after I get a Wagner and a Ruth, and I don't plan to limit the collection to any specific number of cards, but it will probably always be small, and I want each card to be cool and notable.

I did keep one card for sentimental reasons - a signed 1965 Topps Colavito, which Rocky signed for me in the 1990s because we got our hair cut at the same barber.

That’s a good idea for a collection

[Mutton Chop Yaz]

^ Thanks! It's been fun so far.

[seattlerainiers]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Nope, can't do it. I can't even get it down to one item per subject. That said, there are a few items on my no-trade list:













That said, if someone offered me a crazy payment or trade, say a 1952 Topps Mantle for the Marciano RC salesman sample, I would make the deal.

Looking at your "no trade" group is quite a treat!

[wondo]

Complete discolsure: I usually have my "Box of Twenty" separate from another segment of my collection. For instance I am working on a T202 back run for all Cobbs AND I have a box of eight right now.

I missed out last night on a card I really wanted to add to my Box 20 collection - 1951 Mays in Heritage. Just could not pull the trigger, but it looks beautiful!!

[ullmandds]

no...i've also tried/considered this...and ended up with my miller run being 1 card...my ruths being 1 card...my cobbs being 1 card, etc!!!!

[bbcard1]

I have thought, even if only briefly, about limiting myself to the 1970s decade. It was when I was a boy and when I will always remember virtually all the players. It is not an endless amount of stuff, but there's plenty to work on and always some odd regional you didn't know about.

[Jenx34]

Here is a twist that may make this exercise a little less painful for some of you. Ha ha

Create your own Tiered HOF Pyramid (create one for each sport, era, or whatever if that makes you feel better)... The top tier (Apex, Tier 1, Tier A - Name it as you wish) can include only 20 cards. Which cards do you "elect" to that tier. Cards you currently own or have an eye on. Think in terms of monetary value, sentimental value, favorite player, or whatever. It is your Card HOF.

[glynparson]

Jack and I both owned that ringside ad panel at different times. Very cool item.

[rats60]

This would be my list, but I would want to sprinkle a few cards from the 1956-75 period for nostalgia's sake.

T206 Wagner
T206 Plank
Cobb/Cobb back
T205 Johnson
T205 Young
1914 CJ Mathewson
1914 CJ Jackson
M101-4/5 Ruth
1925 Exhibit Gehrig
1933 Goudey Lajoie
1939 Play Ball Williams
1941 Play Ball DiMaggio
1948 Bowman Musial
1949 Leaf Robinson
1949 Leaf Paige
1951 Bowman Mays
1952 Topps Mantle
1954 Topps Aaron
1955 Topps Clemente
1955 Topps Koufax

[EGreenwood]

I love this thread.

I have thought quite a bit about further limiting the scope and scale of my collection. I don't think I could get anywhere near 20, perhaps 5,000. I have been a set collector, HOF collector, type collector and player collector over the last 35+ years.

Erik Greenwood